'unable to connect' and index.php

Question

Hi. 
I am developing a Web Site and index.php is my point of entry.
Document Root     Library/WebServer/Documents
so my path is:       Library/WebServer/Documents/dwwdSite
httpd.conf file is modified to add index.php  and have it listed first.
<IfModule dir_module>
DirectoryIndex   index.php   index.html
<IfModule>
Troubleshooting:
I was using Netbeans IDE and when I ran index.php it opened in the browser.
When I launched 'any' of my index.php files from Netbeans IDE, they opened correctly in the brower
I am NOW using DreamweaverCC and when I run the index.php Error Message ' Unable to Connect'.
For the last 2 days I have been working on this and I am completely stuck.
This morning I thought of another way to test the 'unable to connect' error.
I decided to copy this same file into Netbeans IDE and I NOW get the same Error Message ' Unable to Connect'
when running index.php from Netbeans.
Somehow, my settings are not correctly configured anymore.
Here are my screenshots from Dreamweaver > manage sites.
I believe that this is a rather simple fix that I am somehow not seeing.
Maybe some can spot some mistake.
I appreciate your help and explanation.

Answer 1

Hi Sudarshan.
You have been very kind and very clear in your explanation.
One of the very best that I have ever communicated with on this forum !
I have checked many, many things.
I wanted to make certain that I killed apache and restarted it.
I do not think it is RUNNING at all.
1.
myNameMacBookPro:~ myName$ pwd
/Users/myName
2.
myNameMacBookPro:~ myName$ ps -ax | grep http
1892 ttys000    0:00.00 grep http
3.
myNameMacBookPro:  myName$ hostname
local
4.
myNameMacBookPro:etc myName$ cd apache2
reginaMacBookPro:apache2 myName$ ls
extra            httpd.conf.pre-update    mime.types        other
httpd.conf        magic            original        users
5.
myNameMacBookPro:apache2 myName$ sudo nano httpd.conf
myNameMacBookPro:apache2 myName$ sudo apachectl -k restart
Syntax error on line 1 of /private/etc/apache2/users/myNameBU.conf:
Invalid command '{\\rtf1\\ansi\\ansicpg1252\\cocoartf1187\\cocoasubrtf370', perhaps misspelled or defined by a module not included in the server configuration
httpd not running, trying to start
myNameMacBookPro:apache2 myName$
6.
The above code may be a hint at part of the problem.
I created myNameBU.conf   as a backup when I was editing the file.
QUESTION.  Why is /private/etc/apache2/users/myNameBU.conf:
being referenced above ?
7.
I scanned my ports from preferences and found these two which I believe are what you stated they should be.
port 80 is html
port 8080 is html-alt
8.
I have modified this line and tried it both ways restarting apachectl each time.
AllowOverride None
AllowOverride All
9.
And here is a part of my httpd.conf.
excerpts.
httpd.conf
# User/Group: The name (or #number) of the user/group to run httpd as.
# It is usually good practice to create a dedicated user and group for
# running httpd, as with most system services.
User _www
Group _www
# DocumentRoot: The directory out of which you will serve your
# documents. By default, all requests are taken from this directory, but
# symbolic links and aliases may be used to point to other locations.
DocumentRoot "/Library/WebServer/Documents"
# Each directory to which Apache has access can be configured with respect
# to which services and features are allowed and/or disabled in that
# directory (and its subdirectories).
# First, we configure the "default" to be a very restrictive set of
# features.
<Directory />
    Options FollowSymLinks
    AllowOverride None
    Order deny,allow
    Deny from all
</Directory>
10.
I took a look at this too.
usr/bin
#path to httpd binary including options if necessary
HTTPD = "usr/sgin/httpd"
# pick up any environmental variables if test - f /usr/sbin/envvars; then ./usr/sbin/envvars
fi
STATUSURL = "http://localhost:80/server-status
11.
Just a reminder.
I started writing .php scripts with Netbeans IDE.
The programs ran:  I got output in the brower.  Things worked just fine !
I started writing .php scripts with DreamweaverCC.
The programs NEVER ran.
I have always gotten 'Unable to Connect"
Firefox/Safari can't establish a connection to the server at localhost.'
12.
QUESTION.
At one point I was on the phone with a member of the Adobe Technical Support Team.
They connect to my desktop (only) remotely.  I am very cautious about this.
Could something have been inadvertently changed when they did this ?
They do need to connect through a PORT - yes ?
This is very frustrating and I am loosing days of work.
I want to get back to Web Development
I love Adobe products but this should not be such a huge obstacle.
When I called Technical support (after much troubleshooting individually and on this forum)
the fellow told me that the ONLY support FTP - not LOCALHOST.
This makes no sense.  People develop 'locally' then put it ftp it in the production stage.
Again, I appreciate your assistance.